Alt+S doesn't open Start Menu

Discussion in 'Windows' started by Guest, Nov 3, 2008.

  1. Guest

    Guest Guest

    I've now successfully installed Windows XP Pro (full version, not an Nlite slim-down) and I've discovered an oddity: Alt+S doesn't open the Start Menu.

    Does anyone know why that might be, and what I could do to fix it?

    Many thanks,

    Bert
     
    Guest, Nov 3, 2008
    #1
  2. Guest

    keef319

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    Can't you just press the key between the Fn & Alt buttons? (icon of a house on it).

    In Firefox Alt+s open the History...
     
    keef319, Nov 3, 2008
    #2
  3. Guest

    Guest Guest

    I just tried it, and yes, it seems that you can; I didn't know that, so many thanks.

    It's a little odd though, isn't it, that the standard shortcut doesn't work. You can open the start menu on the Acer with the alternative key-combination, Ctrl+Esc, but not with the one that's become burned into my unconscious over the years.

    Edited to add:

    And this morning, it's working. Good grief.

    Bert
     
    Guest, Nov 3, 2008
    #3
  4. Guest

    adrianaitken

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    Since when has Alt-S opened the start menu ?
    Never heard of that since that is why Microsoft 'invented' the Windows key - to perform sytem tasks like opening the start menu (Window-E for Explorer ,Window-L for locking screen etc). Alt key is for actual programs (like Word,IE etc) since if you have a top menu bar with an underlined 'S' then Alt-S would select that. This has been a standard feature since at least Windows 3.0.
    And if you want to open the start menu, can't you just press the 'windows' key by itself anyway ?
     
    adrianaitken, Nov 4, 2008
    #4
  5. Guest

    woogal

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    Alt-s isn't the standard shortcut, ctrl-esc is (if you don't have a keyboard with a windows key). Alt shortcuts are app specific , so alt-s is just the shortcut when the taskbar has the focus.
     
    woogal, Nov 4, 2008
    #5
  6. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Since before the world was young, as far as I know.

    Not if your keyboard doesn't have one you can't, no.

    Bert
     
    Guest, Nov 4, 2008
    #6
  7. Guest

    IrishGuy

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    As mentioned above by another poster, ALT-S only works if the taskbar has the active "focus" - if it does (click on it first) then ALT-S works just fine on the Aspire One - it's not an issue specific to this hardware at all.

    This is exactly what the "windows" key was invented for. Works regardless of the window focus.
     
    IrishGuy, Nov 4, 2008
    #7
  8. Guest

    Guest Guest

    That would explain why it worked sometimes for me but not always. Thanks to everyone who pointed it out.

    Bert
     
    Guest, Nov 4, 2008
    #8
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